the Tyler Foundation | Shine On Challenge

Shine On Challenge

About the Shine On! Marathon Challenge

Taking it step by step!

Running for charity is the most rewarding way of running a marathon. The Tyler Foundation is working with the local community to raise 10 million JPY this year through the Shine On! Marathon. All proceeds will go towards the Tyler Foundation’s Shine On! House in Tokyo, Japan.

Just a dream back at the time of our first Shine On! Marathon Challenge in 2008, Phase I of our Shine On! House opened early in 2009! A complete support center for pediatric oncology patients and their families, the House provides childcare for siblings, emergency accommodation, a relaxation space for patients and families and now hosts weekly or twice weekly events for patients and siblings.

The Shine On! House now employs one full-time and one part-time child care specialist and with this year's Shine On! Marathon Challenge, we hope to expand activities and childcare to the weekends. We are also poised to start a program called Shine On! School, whereby outpatients can come for twice weekly fun classes (like kid's yoga, rhythmic dance, English, etc.) in a clean and safe environment. All of this costs money - and of course we also have to cover the ongoing costs of running and maintaining our beautiful house!

You and your family can be a part of this ambitious but vital cause. We are asking runners who are already participating in the marathon in Tokyo to register with us for the Shine On! Marathon Challenge. Runners - show off your talent and be in the race to win some fantastic prizes! Supporters, friends and family of registered runners are encouraged to cast their bets in the name of charity and make an online pledge for their favorite team or individual runner.

Why Register?

By registering with us for the Shine On! Marathon Challenge you'll receive a runner support pack, which includes:

Personalized pledging page on the Tyler website
Regular updates
A grand prize for the individual and team that attracts the most pledges
Cheering squads at key stages around the course
Post-marathon party and prize-giving

Shine On! Marathon Challenge

Feel the rush!

Running for charity is the most rewarding way of running a marathon! All registered marathon runners will have the opportunity to raise money for the Shine On! House as part of a Team (company, club, country, friends – your choice!) or as an Individual.

Shine On! Marathon Challenge and Team Beads of Courage

“Connecting caring individuals with courageous kids through a random act of kindness”

This year, the Tyler Foundation is giving Shine On! Marathon Challenge runners who raise a minimum of 20,000 yen in pledges the opportunity to participate in a very special program to touch the life of a child with cancer in Japan.

The Tyler Foundation has recently launched the US-founded Beads of Courage program in Japan. Children fighting cancer receive colorful beads as meaningful symbols of courage to commemorate milestones they have achieved along their unique treatment path. Each bead tells a story of strength, honor and hope.

In addition to a variety of standard beads children receive on a regular basis to track their cancer treatment, when a child is going through a particularly challenging time, they are given a very special bead to enCOURAGE them. This is where Team BOC comes into play and where you personally can make a difference. Click here to read more.